Injury blow for Limerick

All-Star Sรฉamus Flannagan will be a big injury loss to Limerick against Clare in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship final on June 9. Photo: Daire Brennan.

Sร‰AMUS Flanagan is a serious injury doubt for Limerickโ€™s Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final showdown with Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Sunday week (June 9).

Flanagan, who scored a memorable hat-trick against Cork, pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 10-point win by the holders over Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds.

In the words of his manager John Kiely โ€œitโ€™s highly unlikely that he will be involved in it (the final)โ€.

โ€œHe has to just go now and get his rehab done and thereโ€™s no better team of people than the people we have with us to look after him.โ€

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Since his debut back in 2018, the 2021 All-Star has featured in over 70 matches with his county – during which he has scored a most satisfactory 12-103.

Flanaganโ€™s surprise replacement was Shane Oโ€™Brien (Kilmallock), still a month shy of his 20th birthday.

On his Championship debut, Oโ€™Brien acquitted himself very well, knocking over three delightful points.

โ€œHeโ€™s been waiting a while to get an opportunity like that,โ€ acknowledged Kiely of a teenager that was involved with the county Under-20s over the last couple of months, and who โ€œcame back into our group sharpโ€.

If Flanagan isnโ€™t available, Oโ€™Brien, Adam English, Conor Boylan, and Donnacha ร“ Dalaigh will come into the selectorial thoughts of Kiely, Paul Kinnerk, Donal Oโ€™Grady, Aonghus Oโ€™Brien, Alan Cunningham, and John Flavin.

Darragh Oโ€™Donovan, who hasnโ€™t featured due to injury in the Championship so far, is unlikely to be on the starting blocks against The Banner.

In a progress report, Kiely suggested: โ€œHe needs more time, more game time, more training. He’s in great form, heโ€™s making great progress every day we are on the pitch. He had a great session again this (Sunday) morning, heโ€™ll do more next week. The most important thing is that he is fit and healthy and weโ€™ll get him ready. We wonโ€™t play him until he is ready.โ€